Locking device with convertible shank including locking method thereof

• US 7,165,426 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Issued: 01/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philip W. Wyers
• Original Assignee: Philip W. Wyers
• Inventors: Wyers, Philip W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gall; Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US10/752,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20040139771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 70/34, 704/61, 703/74, 703/81, 703/79, 70D/IG.57, 702/58, 702/32, 703/86, 702/29, 704/66, 703/70, 704/17, 70 53- 56, 70D/IG.43, 70D/IG.56, 70/51, 411/546, 411/383, 411/384, 280/506, 280/507
• US Class Current: 70/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/52 removably mounted B60D1/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/60 Covers, caps or guards , e.g. comprising anti-theft devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0056 Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts adjustable strikers E05B15/024; adjustable to different keys E05B35/083; adjustable bolt or backset E05B63/06; adjustable coupling means for bars, rods, cables E05C9/20
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/36 Padlocks with closing means other than shackles ; Removable locks, the lock body itself being the locking element; Padlocks consisting of two separable halves or cooperating with a stud
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/443 Single stem or shank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5982 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7678 Adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7723 Cylinder rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7751 With ball or roller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8838 Adjustment provisions

Abstract

A method utilizes a locking device that includes a shackle member having a shank with a latch portion and a stop at opposite ends. A locking head mounts in a locked state on the latch portion but is removable when unlocked. A sleeve is carried on the shank but is removable. The sleeve and the shank together define a size conversion structure for the shackle. When the sleeve is on the shank, the shackle has one operative thickness to closely fit one size aperture, but when the sleeve is removed, the shackle has another, smaller operative thickness to fit a smaller aperture. A retaining member may be employed to resist removal of the sleeve. Two or more sleeves may be used to fit more than two apertures. These can be separately mountable onto the shank or may be nested on the shank, one inside of the other.

Claims

1. In a locking device having a locking head movable between a locked and an unlocked state, a shackle member including a linear shank having an outer surrounding surface, first and second end portions and a length and a thickness, said shackle member including a latch portion disposed at the shank first end portion and configured to engage said locking head, and a stop member disposed at the shank second end portion, a method for varying the diameter of the linear shank to adapt the locking device to variable sized apertures in components to be locked with said device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sleeve with an inner diameter sized to closely fit over said shank in an engaged position with said sleeve having an inner surrounding surface and a sleeve length sufficient to extend over a majority of the length of said shank when in the engaged position with the inner surrounding surface of said sleeve in substantially confronting relation with the outer surrounding surface of said shank over substantially the length of said sleeve thereby to achieve a close-fitted mated engagement with said shank;

(b) in the alternative, either

(i) telescopingly engaging said sleeve onto said shank and thereafter positioning said shank and sleeve together within one sized aperture or

(ii) positioning said shank without said sleeve being engaged thereon within another sized aperture; and

(c) thereafter engaging said locking head with said latch portion.

2. The method according to claim 1, including the step of resisting removal of said sleeve from said shank by providing a compressible resilient element operative to engage said sleeve and said shank when said sleeve is in the engaged position.

3. In a locking device having a locking head movable between a locked and an unlocked state, a shackle member having a linear shank with a thickness dimension and first and second end portions, a latch portion disposed at the shank first end portion configured to engage said locking head, and a stop member disposed at the shank second end portion, a method for varying the diameter of the linear shank to adapt the locking device to variable sized apertures in components to be locked with said device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of sleeves each having a common inner diameter for telescopingly engaging said shank and a different outer diameter;

(b) selecting a sleeve having an outer diameter corresponding to the size of the apertures in the components to be locked;

(c) telescopingly engaging the selected sleeve onto said shank;

(d) retaining the selected sleeve in position on said shank;

(e) positioning said shank and selected sleeve within apertures of the components to be locked; and

(f) engaging said locking head with said latch portion.

4. In a locking device having a locking head movable between a locked and an unlocked state, a shackle member having a linear shank with a thickness dimension and first and second end portions, a latch portion disposed at the shank first end portion configured to engage said locking head, and a stop member disposed at the shank second end portion, a method for varying the diameter of the linear shank to adapt the locking device to variable sized apertures in components to be locked with said device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of sleeves having variable inner and outer diameters and configured to be selectively nested within each other;

(b) selecting one or more nested sleeves having a combined outer diameter corresponding to the size of the apertures in the components to be locked;

(c) telescopingly engaging the selected combination of sleeves onto said shank;

(d) retaining the selected combination of sleeves in position on said shank;

(e) positioning said shank and selected combination of sleeves within apertures of the components to be locked; and

(f) engaging said locking head with said latch portion.

5. In a locking device having a locking head movable between a locked and an unlocked state, a shackle member having a linear shank with a thickness dimension and first and second end portions, a latch portion disposed at the shank first end portion configured to engage said locking head, and a stop member disposed at the shank second end portion, a method for varying the diameter of the linear shank to adapt the locking device to variable sized apertures in components to be locked with said device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sleeve with an inner diameter sized to closely fit over said shank;

(b) telescopingly engaging said sleeve onto said shank;

(c) retaining said sleeve in position on said shank by providing an annular groove in said shank proximate the latch portion thereof, and then positioning a retaining member in said groove about said shank after the sleeve has been telescopically positioned onto said shank;

(d) positioning said shank and sleeve within apertures of the components to be locked; and

(e) engaging said locking head with said latch portion.

6. In a locking device having a locking head movable between a locked and an unlocked state, a shackle member having a linear shank with a thickness dimension and first and second end portions, a latch portion disposed at the shank first end portion configured to engage said locking head, and a stop member disposed at the shank second end portion, a method for varying the diameter of the linear shank to adapt the locking device to variable sized apertures in components to be locked with said device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sleeve with an inner diameter sized to closely fit over said shank;

(b) telescopingly engaging said sleeve onto said shank;

(c) retaining said sleeve in position on said shank by providing a first set of threads on one end portion of said sleeve and a second set of threads on said stop member, and then threadably engaging said sleeve with said stop member after said sleeve has been telescopically positioned onto said shank;

(d) positioning said shank and sleeve within apertures of the components to be locked; and

(e) engaging said locking head with said latch portion.

7. In a locking device having a locking head movable between a locked and an unlocked state, a shackle member including a linear shank having first and second end portions and a length and a thickness, said shackle member including a latch portion disposed at the shank first end portion and configured to engage said locking head, and a stop member disposed at the shank second end portion wherein said locking head and said shackle member may be completely disconnected from one another as two independent pieces, a method for varying the diameter of the linear shank to adapt the locking device to variable sized apertures in components to be locked with said device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sleeve with an inner diameter sized to closely fit over said shank in an engaged position with said sleeve having a sleeve length sufficient to extend over a majority of the length of said shank when in the engaged position;

(b) in the alternative, either

(i) telescopingly engaging said sleeve onto said shank and thereafter positioning said shank and sleeve together within one sized aperture or

(ii) positioning said shank without said sleeve being engaged thereon within another sized aperture; and

(c) thereafter engaging said locking head with said latch portion.